By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C.
**Check back with DigitalSports throughout the week for video recaps of nearly every game in the Northern Region!!
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NORTHERN REGION WEEK 9: BY THE NUMBERS
37.5 % – In the 2000s, Stuart has eight wins — an overall record of 8-79. Three of those eight wins came against Wakefield. That’s 37.5% of their victories, the highest percentage of one teams wins against a single opponent in the VHSL.
33 – Washington-Lee has not qualified for the playoffs since 1975. That’s 33 years. The Generals currently sit at the No. 6 seed in Division 5.
8 – Ten all-time meetings between Westfield and Oakton are separated by just 8 points, advantage: Bulldogs.
125-3 – Madison’s aggregate scoring advantage over McLean is 125-3. The Warhawks haven’t lost to the Highlanders since 1999.
12 – Centreville has beaten No. 6 Chantilly 12 straight years in the Sully Bowl, dating back to the Chargers’ state championship team in 1996.
4-1 – Three Patriot District teams enter Week 9 with a 4-1
record. If West Potomac beats No. 9 Annandale and Lake Braddock beats
West Springfield, there will be four teams with a 4-2 district record.
54.7 – In the last three seasons, Lake Braddock and West Springfield have posted a combined 54.7 points per game.
35 – No. 10 Mount Vernon scored 35 unanswered, second-half points last season against Yorktown, ultimately crippling the Patriot season.
Concorde District
No. 2 Oakton (8-0, 4-0) at No. 5 Westfield (7-1, 3-1) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.**Game will be covered by Phil Murphy.
If the playoffs started today, the Concorde District would claim the top four seeds in Division 6 — and this would be the match-up of No. 1 versus No. 2. This is the first time Westfield is playing a regular season game after a loss since Nov. 5, 2004, a 35-8 win at Chantilly (0-10).
Oakton left Robinson far from unscathed last week. They trailed 21-9 with :03 seconds left in the first half before Chris Coyer found Trey Watts for a 65-yard touchdown connection as time expired in the second quarter. Coyer would rush eight times for 136 yards after the break and propel the Cougars to a 43-31 win, but it was the most points they’ve allowed all season.
Since Westfield began fielding a varsity team in 2001, the Bulldogs are Cougars could hardly be more even. They have split the 10 meetings with Westfield holding an aggregate scoring advantage of just 208-200. But Oakton is 3-0 against Coach Verbanic‘s crew in the playoffs, with an average margin of victory of 22 points per game.
This one will be standing room only.
No. 4 Herndon (6-2, 3-1) at Robinson (3-5, 1-3) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
Sandwiched between games with the No. 2 Oakton and then-No. 4 Westfield for the Hornets stand the Rams, a team on the verge of their first losing season in over a decade. But Robinson nearly turned the Division 6 playoff scene on its head with an upset win last week, leading Oakton, 21-9, with under five seconds left in the first half.
However, a 65-yard, final-play touchdown allowed the Cougars to grab the momentum and they never fully relinquished it. But Robinson put more points on Oakton than anyone else has this season.
But Herndon is coming off the biggest win in program history, 29-28 in double-overtime over Westfield. But with that game behind them and Oakton themselves next week for a possible district championship, this may be the prime time for a Ram upheaval.
You never know what will happen with a Bendorf backed into a corner.
No. 6 Chantilly (6-2, 3-2) at Centreville (1-7, 0-4) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
Although the last two seasons have cemented the Chargers as a Northern Region powerhouse, the Wildcats have been a thorn in their side since current roster members were first-graders. Chantilly has a 12-game losing streak to Centreville dating back to its state championship in 1996. In last year’s Sully Bowl, the Wildcats held the Chargers scoreless for the first 47 minutes en route to a 19-6 victory.
With the Centreville mired in its most frustrating season in memory, Chantilly would like nothing more than to kick them while they are down. The Chargers — paced by Torrian Pace’s seven carries for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns — rolled up Fairfax, 42-6. The Wildcats, meanwhile, lost out of conference at Mount Vernon by 10.
Chantilly players and coaches are well aware of the losing streak — and, if not, they will be by reading this piece — and know the value of win here with No. 3 Edison looming next week.
Liberty District
No. 1 Stone Bridge (8-0, 5-0) at Jefferson (2-6, 1-4) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs have had their two lowest offensive outputs in each of the last two weeks, but won by a combined 73 points. And Stone Bridge’s lowest point total, 35, is more than Jefferson has scored all year.
Even without senior defensive end Zach Thompson, one of three Wake Forest signees, the Bulldog defense could pitch its third straight shutout. They’ve beaten the Colonials by a combined 98-0 over the last two seasons and a third straight 49-0 win may be in the works.
Langley (4-4, 3-2) at No. 8 W.T. Woodson (6-2, 5-0) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.**Game will be covered by Angela Watts.
The Saxons have beaten the Cavaliers the last three times they’ve met, outscoring Woodson 89-22 in those games. The Cavs’ last victory came in the 2004 Northern Region semifinal, which capped what was a four-game winning streak for them.
Woodson sits tied atop the Liberty District with a Week 10 game at No. 1 Stone Bridge looming, but they can’t sleep on Langley, who is able to grind out wins with the best of them.
Although the winner of this game has not scored less than 21 points in any of the last five match-ups, this has the makings of a low-scoring affair, with one or two turnovers being the deciding factor. Whoever wins the battle for ball security will take it.
A Week 10 game against McLean is not going to help the Saxons — the No. 9 team in Division 6 — at all with Power Points. Now, a victory over the 6-2 Cavaliers — the No. 6 seed in Division 6? That will punch Langley’s playoff ticket.
Marshall (3-5, 1-4) at South Lakes (2-6, 1-4) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
The Statesmen need back-to-back wins to close out the regular season to avoid their first sub-.500 season since 2004. Last season, a 51-0 home win over the Seahawks sparked Marshall’s improbable run to the Northern Region semifinals.
Last week, Marshall trailed Woodson by seven points with just 1:42 left, before a late touchdown pass to Max Waizenegger doubled the Cavaliers’ margin of victory.
Both of these teams are getting gradually healthier as the weeks pass. Their records are far-from-reflective of their talent.
McLean (0-8, 0-5) at Madison (4-4, 3-2) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
The Highlanders are scoring more points per game, 15.6, than they have in any other the last four seasons. But McLean needs a win over Madison or Langley, both 4-4, to avoid a winless regular season.
The Warhawks have beaten the Highlanders eight straight times by a total of 229-49. The last time McLean beat Madison was in 1999, a year in which the Warhawks went 1-9.
Over the last five seasons, the Warhawks hold a 125-3 scoring advantage.
National District
Washington-Lee (5-3, 3-1) at No. 3 Edison (8-0, 5-0) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
The Generals have been outscored 166-165 this season, but sit at the brink of their first playoff berth since 1975. But they enter their toughest stretch of schedule in the final two weeks.
First up are the Eagles, who have outscored them 341-27 since 1999 — an average of 35 points per game over nine meetings. Washington-Lee’s last win in the series came in Week 8 of 1997, 13-10.
Update on the Edison ground-game dominance: Angus Harper and Stephon Robertson have combined for 125 carries for 1,465 yards — 11.7 yards per carry — and 20 touchdowns in eight games
Stuart (1-7, 0-4) at Wakefield (2-6, 1-3) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
If one scratched the first three weeks of the season, the Warriors would be a playoff team. Same goes for Stuart, but you would have the keep the first four games and cut things out after that. Point: Both teams have had night-and-day turn-arounds since Week 1, but Wakefield’s is infinitely more desirable.
The Warriors are 2-3 in their last five games, but had fourth-quarter drives ended by the game clock in last two weeks against Washington-Lee and Yorktown. The Raiders finally got their offense kick-started last week against the Generals, but have lost a handful of players due to injury and departure.
Stuart has eight wins since 2000; three have come against Wakefield.
No. 10 Mount Vernon (6-2, 3-1) at Yorktown (5-3, 3-1) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m. **Game will be covered by Jimmy Thomas.
These teams have grossly contrasting styles, but there is no game with greater effect on the Division 5 playoff picture than this match-up between the Majors and Patriots. If the playoffs started today, these are your No. 3 and No. 4 seeds — Mount Vernon and Yorktown, respectively. Yorktown travels to Washington-Lee in Week 10 and that game, coupled with this one, will determine second place in the National District.
The recent history between these teams only adds to the anticipation for this game.
Coming
into last season, the Patriots had four consecutive victories over the Majors, the last two by a collective 69 points. Yorktown
needed a Week 9 win over Mount Vernon to almost assuredly lock up a home,
first-round playoff game. And with a 6-0 lead at the half, the victory
was nearly in hand. However, the Majors scored 35 unanswered
second-half points to thump the Patriots, 35-6. Yorktown, consequently,
had to travel to Edison in the first round of the playoffs.
It lost,
48-18.
Patriot District
West Springfield (5-3, 4-1) at Lake Braddock (4-4, 2-3) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
No one expected seven combined losses — four in conference — when these teams were slated to meet in Week 9. But the Bruins had their hearts broken by South County and T.C. Williams in successive weeks. And the Spartans were more healthy coming out of the Battle of Thermopylae. Quarterback Bryn Renner is expected to start, coming off a sprained shoulder suffered in Week 7.
Nonetheless, West Springfield controls its own playoff destiny, as it has beaten both Annandale and South County, the other two Patriot teams tied atop the district. And if West Potomac stops red-hot Annandale on the road, West Springfield would still be in control of its own fate should they lose to Lake Braddock tonight.
But when the banged-up Spartans and blood-thirsty Bruins meet in Burke — say that three times fast — expect the boys to be hitting as hard as they have all season. This rivalry is likely the best outside of the Concorde District.
Lake Braddock and West Springfield have posted a collective 54.7 points per game over the last three meetings.
Hayfield (1-7, 0-5) at No. 7 South County (5-3, 4-1) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
It takes less than 20 minutes to drive from the Stallion campus to the Hawks’ Nest, but these teams have been separated by more than that on the gridiron this season. Hayfield has played closer-than-expected games with West Potomac, Annandale, T.C. Williams and Lee, but are on the verge of its third straight winless district season. Hayfield is 0-3 all-time against South County.
The Stallions looked like Mustangs with all the offense they are putting up in district play. They are scoring a hair under 32 points per game and their only loss came by 10 points at West Springfield. But the physical South County forced four Spartan starters to the sidelines.
Last week, in a shutout win against West Potomac — which was coming off a state-record passing performance by senior Cole Walter — four different Stallions scored touchdowns. And that doesn’t include all-everything fullback/linebacker J.B. Bullock, who scored four TDs in the West Springfield loss. Bullock, though, recorded an interception, two fumbles forced, a fumble recovery, two tackles for loss and three sacks on defense.
Holler.
West Potomac (5-3, 3-2) at No. 9 Annandale (5-3, 4-1) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
Outside of No. 4 Herndon, there is no team hotter than No. 9 Annandale. And outside of a few unnamed units, there is a short list of teams in more need of a win than West Potomac.
After starting the season 5-0, with marquee wins over Mount Vernon, Yorktown and — at the time — Centrevillle, the Wolverines have lost three straight and find themselves in free fall with the ledge of playoff elimination fast approaching. A 38-0 road loss last week to No. 7 South County did not help the cause.
The Atoms currently sit tenth in the Division 6 playoff power ratings, but are coming off their first “quality” win, 34-7 at Lake Braddock. Annandale’s final two opponents have a combined record of 10-6, so they are in control of their own playoff destiny. And if West Springfield loses either of its final two games, the Week 10 game against South County will determine the Patriot District champion.
Don’t sleep on West Potomac, though, they’re down, but not out.
T.C. Williams (3-5, 3-3) at Lee (2-6, 1-4) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
Last season, coming off its first win of the season, the Lancers stunned the Titans on the road, 13-7, in what ultimately clinched a playoff berth. But last week, T.C. Williams notched the upset of the season with a two-point over West Springfield, a Spartan unit riddled with injury.
But since Coach Everett’s squad moved into the Patriot District in his first season, 2005, Robert E(verett) Lee is unbeaten against T.C., outscoring the mighty Titans 60-31 in that span.
With similar playoff consequences as last season, Lee will need a similar performance to last week’s win over Hayfield. After the Hawks’ game-opening scoring drive, the Lancers allowed two total first downs and senior running back Jazmier Williams outgained Hayfield as team, 200-118.
Non-District Games
Falls Church (0-8, 0-5) at Fairfax (3-5, 1-4) — Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.
Both the Rebels and Jaguars were on the wrong end of one-sided defeats last week. Fairfax allowed four touchdowns of 45 yards or more in a 42-6 loss to No. 6 Chantilly. Falls Church, meanwhile, allowed two non-offensive touchdowns to No. 3 Edison — which was without either Washington brother — in a 45-6 home loss. But Jaguar quarterback Sam Gerima went down with a knee injury in the first quarter of that game and did not return.
If the Rebels can return to their running game of weeks past, they should find themselves with a comfortable home win.
Falls Church has the potential to put up points, but its 16.8 points per game scored is the team’s lowest total since 2003.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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